What is the cultural reason that many American men dress very simply?
Posted by TheShyBuck@reddit | AskAnAmerican | View on Reddit | 274 comments
I noticed that most American men dress simply compared to men from other countries.
Russian men, French men, Czech men, Polish men, Italian men wear a lot of fashionable clothing compared to American men
bryku@reddit
I think it comes down to 2 reasons:
Casual
Americans do care what other people think, so there are still societal norms, but most of this is school/work related. No one really cares what you wear on your day off chilling at home or going to the store.
Prestige
What is fancy? Is it the price? In that case, a $200 pair of jeans should be fancier than a $100 pair of dress pants? Is it the brand? Nearly every piece of clothing has a variety of brands, so I don't think that is the case.
It isn't the 1800s anymore. Most clothes are made on the same machine with a few extra steps or different fabrics and dyes. The fabrics and dyes aren't even a big factor in the price anymore due to automation, factory farming, and synthetic materials.
jessek@reddit
Polish men fashionable? What the hell are you smoking?
JoeMorgue@reddit
Nearly every post here just makes it more and more obvious that so many other countries simply can't comprehend of not having a single "culture" that tells you what to do.
Like I'm being serious. Y'all really keep having these goddamn existential crises over the simple fact that in America we don't have social rules for literally everything we do.
GratefulTrails@reddit
"Is it true Americans are allowed to wear their hat backwards outside in public?!?! In (enter european country here) we would never DREAM of such a thing!!"
I agree
Thelonius16@reddit
Bold of you to think they would reveal their home country.
Crayshack@reddit
They usually just say "in the rest of the world."
o93mink@reddit
I mean, we have micro cultures with rules, but these aren’t visible to OP.
I don’t identify at all with these people who are like “I wear what I want, who cares?” because that’s not part of my segment of the American culture. I’d be ostracized if I wore “whatever I want” to work and even to social events. But you don’t have to live like that if you don’t want to, and that’s the great part of America.
No_Walk_Town@reddit
The thing is that when Europeans talk about culture, they're using an archaic, pre-social science definition that basically means "high culture" - it treats culture as an unchanging institution that exists outside of the individual.
Actual social science defines culture as literally everything humans do. Culture is something that exists inside the individual but also between individuals.
America doesn't have "micro cultures" - those are just culture.
One thing people misunderstand about culture is that they tend to see it as a unique defining trait - they tend to see culture as something that only "counts" if it's 100% unique and 100% universal to you.
That's why we get questions like OP's - why doesn't everyone in the US dress the exact same? Well, the actual reality of culture is that it's never 100% unique or 100% universal.
When someone says it's American culture to wear baseball caps, that doesn't mean 100% of Americans wear baseball caps 100% of the time. It just means some of us have a custom of wearing basebal caps in specific situations.
So culture is always both positive and negative - it's American culture to wear a baseball cap here, in this time and place - but it's also American culture to feel uncomfortable wearing one there in that time and place.
"We don't do that here" is culture, too. Europeans miss that because they only see culture as "old building" and "old recipe."
JoeMorgue@reddit
That relates to something I've said a few times.
Other countries can just go "Well that's my culture!" as an answer to everything while we can't do that because to them we don't have a "culture."
At end of the day "We have social rules that tell us how to do everything and notice people who don't" is not the flex they think it is.
vaspost@reddit
There are plenty guys in the US whose wardrobe consists of 7 identical knit pull over shirts in random colors. Comfortable yet nice enough for work or a good restaurant and causal enough to mow the lawn. Don't need anything else.
o93mink@reddit
Yep. Does that help my point or hurt it?
vaspost@reddit
I think it does boost your point. Guys do consider the social aspect of clothes. They are just going with the simplest most casual option.
Fwahm@reddit
I would argue that dressing to not break minimum work or restaurant standards is a different beast than dressing to be fashionable (either to feel good about your appearance or to actively impress others). I pick my work clothes to prevent myself from getting a talking to by my boss, but said work clothes are quite the opposite of being fashionable.
Tullyswimmer@reddit
And like, even among people, men in particular, who dress "well" in the US, the clothes would STILL look loose and baggy by European standards. And probably "plain" as you just don't see a lot of men wearing like, designer shirts with patterns.
o93mink@reddit
Wearing designer shirts with patterns isn’t considered dressing “well” in most places. The people who wear it in Europe are kind of snickered at and looked down on as low class just as you’d do the same if you saw someone doing it in LA.
Look at the King of Spain. He is a well dressed European. A soccer star wearing all Gucci everything is considered silly there just as they are here.
JoeMorgue@reddit
That's what I'm saying. The impression I get from a lot of questions here isn't a question about any particular thing about America specifically but this deeper, utter mass confusion at this idea that there is a country out there with more than one "culture."
Like it just feels like in most other countries there's just this one single unwritten rulebook about what to wear, how to prepare and eat your food, how to dance the polka in the moonlight on the Winter Solstice, whatever and the idea that a country can just not have really confuses people.
That's why so many of the questions here are just these weird questions about "Do you wear our clothes, eat our food, do you enjoy or entertainment" that seem to be less asking THAT question and more going "Explain to me how American doesn't have a single cuisine and dress that all of you follow because I can't comprehend it."
No_Walk_Town@reddit
I always point this out, but Europeans will always come in and be like, "The American melting pot isn't unique, Euopreans have the exact same thing. Anyone can be my countryman IF AND ONLY IF they speak my language and assimilate into my culture."
And it's like, my guy, you just described a culturally homogenous ethnostate.
"Americans can't be Italian because Italian isn't an ethnicity." And it's like, no, you literally just described an Italian ethnicity and explained how it is mandatory to be ethnically Italian to be considered a "real Italian."
When Europeans say that "America doesn't have a culture or a language of their own," they're really just saying that America isn't an ethnostate, and they find that offensive.
GhostOfJamesStrang@reddit
I'm not here to impress you.
No_Walk_Town@reddit
Another way of looking at this is that American culture puts a huge emphasis on mutual respect, and that mutual respect is essentially unconditional - we don't need to look a certain way to earn each other's respect, or talk a certain way, or be a certain type of person.
New-Process-52@reddit
Jeans
mmmhotcoffee@reddit
I dunno, but it bugs the living daylights out of me me that dudes show up at business events in gray t shirts and blue jeans.
o93mink@reddit
Because the vast majority of our history doesn’t have an urban culture.
Europeans have been living in towns and cities for hundreds of years where they developed elaborate class systems based around centuries of mandatory dress codes they inherited from the nobility.
Americans got dropped in the woods 300 years ago and had to recreate cities from scratch, largely only having done so in large numbers over the past 100 years, and it’s still not the majority of our population that lives in those large cities.
Most of our history is not tied up in “looking fancy in town” like Europe’s is. Likewise, we have significantly less class and economic anxiety than Europe due to never having a feudal system or monarchy, so there’s much less pressure for those who don’t live in the big fancy cities to pretend they do like there was (and often still is) in Europe and Asia.
Curmudgy@reddit
I don’t know that I’d say it’s most of our history. It might have gone back and forth. In the 1950s, it was common for people to dress up when going out, with men wearing jackets and ties at any restaurant above diner quality, and teen boys and girls to dress up for parties.
o93mink@reddit
Yes, the upper middle class of New England, the most European part of the country
Curmudgy@reddit
I grew up in NYC, middle class but not upper middle class.
Imaginary_Ladder_917@reddit
You make very good points
Gold_Telephone_7192@reddit
I know you're not including Russian and Polish men in the "fashionable dressers" category lmao.
JacobDCRoss@reddit
Yeah. That's not a thing.
Plus, I don't think OP understands how hot it gets out here. Even in the PNW we have many days over 100F/38C, and many more well outside the range of comfortable enough to wear jackets and such. And the very next day it can be miserable raining.
Better to dress light and layer if needed.
LivingInDE2189@reddit
How do you define many? Seattle has 1 day over 100 every 2 or 3 years. Portland has 4 or so per year. Spokane has a couple per year.
JacobDCRoss@reddit
Live in a rural town in the Washington side of the Portland Metro. Couple years back we had a massive heat wave. Topped 117 three days in a row, plus multiple days of 100+ on either side of it.
LivingInDE2189@reddit
Yeah back in 2021. Portland had 0 100+ days last year, and between 4-5 from 2022 to 2024. That's not "many"
NiteTiger@reddit
Compared to Russia and eastern Europe, y'know, what this thread is about... What's the average on 100°F days, in Moscow, or other Eastern European cities?
I've heard Europeans whine about 90°F+ (32°C+), but in my city, Nashville, we're pushing that late spring. 95+ average is just summer.
And high humidity, so sweating doesn't cool you, it just increases your personal sauna.
Good luck in your wool blazer. You'll be soaked between your car and the entrance 🤣🤣
LivingInDE2189@reddit
The thread is asking why Americans dress the way they do
NiteTiger@reddit
And I answered that, specifically. If you look at a map, you'll see most of the US sits at a lower lattitude than all of Europe. Fashionable wool blazers from Europe would literally kill you in my city.
What did you misunderstand?
TheShyBuck@reddit (OP)
Russian men and Polish men wear a lot of expensive clothing
You think all Russian and Polish men dress like memes gangs who wear tracksuits?
Gold_Telephone_7192@reddit
American men and women also wear a lot of expensive and fashionable clothing.
You think all Americans dress like memes of people at Walmart who wear pajamas and cargo pants?
TheShyBuck@reddit (OP)
I mean the point of my question is it less acceptable in the US to wear expensive clothing?
Gold_Telephone_7192@reddit
Less acceptable to wear expensive clothing? No. More acceptable to wear casual clothing? Yes compared to many countries. I don't think Poland and Russia is on that list, but several other European countries are.
TheShyBuck@reddit (OP)
The list of what?
Gold_Telephone_7192@reddit
The list of countries that are less accepting of casual clothing than the US
kayakchick66@reddit
Right? A PUMA track suit is hardly fashionable.
TheShyBuck@reddit (OP)
It is just poor men in Eastern Europe or, chavs and gangs who wear tracksuits.
TiFist@reddit
It's not the jacket part that's a problem, it's the "puma pants".
o93mink@reddit
Those Adidas tracksuits are the height of fashion
TheShyBuck@reddit (OP)
It is just Russian poor men, chavs and gangs who wear tracksuits
a lot of Russian and Polish men wear expensive clothing
ClickClick_Boom@reddit
Adidas tracksuit, and a Lada with a matching Adidas racing stripe is peak slav fashion as far as I'm aware.
atomicCape@reddit
To be fair, those Polish and Russian guys you're think of are the equivalent of Florida men. But to be extra fair, OP seems to presume most Americans dress like Florida men.
Real-Broccoli-9325@reddit
They see pictures of Americans at Walmart wearing Cookie Monster pajama pants and an “If you don’t believe in the Second Amendment, I’ve got a new butt plug you should try!” tee shirt (with a rifle and American flag motif), and assume that’s what we all wear.
As if no one in any other country wears dumpy clothes sometimes.
ApollyonFE@reddit
It's not far off. Sweatpants and crocs might as well be the American uniform at this point 😂
Real-Broccoli-9325@reddit
Yeah, but we’re not special. It’s the everyone uniform, honestly. I can’t imagine Brazilians or Quebecois, or like, Romanians, being too haughty for some joggers. My Russian ex wore joggers to the bar when I was glammed to the max, but he wore a fucking blazer to his university classes. And the grocery store.
iowanaquarist@reddit
Which is hilarious, as one of the countries he listed is stereotyped as people wearing dumpy track suits.
Real-Broccoli-9325@reddit
My Russian ex would dress up to go to the grocery store or an 8am university lecture, but then we’d go to a party (not even a Russian party) or a bar, and he’d wear joggers. Like… why is that? I’d dress up for these things and he’d be wearing lounge clothes. And “make fun” of me for wearing leggings to class (he wasn’t actually a jackass about it). Where I sit and take notes.
iowanaquarist@reddit
I got two degrees at the same time in college. When I went to computer science classes, I got teased about looking like I was dressed for job interviews every day. I would then walk across campus to the business building and get teased for rolling out of bed and going to class in my pajamas.
In all honesty, though, it was definitely a smile and a nod to the different cultures in the two departments, and no one actually cared what a college student was dressed as.
wbishopfbi@reddit
Okay now I kinda want to see what you just described 😂
Real-Broccoli-9325@reddit
The Cookie Monster pants are real, they’re thick and fuzzy, and I did see them on a guy at Walmart (in person! He was sagging them though, so there was buttcrack 🤢). The shirt I made up, but I wouldn’t actually be surprised to see it.
wbishopfbi@reddit
I figured it was made up but it cracked me up :-)
venus_arises@reddit
Ukrainian here: there are two modes for men. "Adidas Tracksuit" vs "MY FIT COSTS MORE THAN MY GIRL'S".
Go to a Russian restaurant on a Saturday night.
Gold_Telephone_7192@reddit
Sounds similar to the US then. We have tons of people who are very fashionable and tons of people who are not. Sounds like OP is just comparing tourists who are dressed for comfort as they are walking 15 miles a day to people going out to fancy dinner and drinks and are dressed up.
venus_arises@reddit
The men in the Russian memes tend to be (per Russian-raised husband) the dregs of male society, so there's a cultural reason why they are running around in Adidas tracksuits. There's also strong brand loyalty because they were among the first brands to show up in stores after 1991.
Photos of Russian dudes at work or college are definitely more realistic.
Tullyswimmer@reddit
Eh, to be fair, you can easily spot European tourists in cities like NY and Miami on account of them wearing their pants from middle school and their younger sister's shirt from middle school, while carrying a designer handbag. For whatever reason they seem to think that's comfortable.
Raving_Lunatic69@reddit
Fashionable =/= Appealing
Technical_Plum2239@reddit
I think "fashionable" is expensive. My housekeeper is Polish and they spend thousands on clothes. Like 2 year olds in Fendi and other brands that are barely on my radar.
Outward appearance is so important.
TehLoneWanderer101@reddit
It can get up to 110 degrees in Southern California.
cranberry_spike@reddit
I think a lot of folks not from here don't realize just how much weather extremes influence everything. I'm from Chicago and we can get very cold in the winter, with wind and humidity. We can also get very hot in the summer. It does change how you dress!
anypositivechange@reddit
The test of the world… famously devoid of extreme weather. Lol.
SkiingAway@reddit
The parts of Western Europe where most people live do have a very narrow range of temps most of the time.
Meanwhile I've had snow this week and it's been below 20F/-7C, and in less than a week it's expected to break 80F/27C.
cranberry_spike@reddit
We've had a similar week in Chicago. Not quite as cold, but it was like 28 with snow showers and then it'll be 79 or something on Sunday.
Tough_Tangerine7278@reddit
Saying the USA has temp extremes doesn’t imply the rest of the world doesn’t.
WillDupage@reddit
The folks in Europe just don’t dress for the extremes. “We dress in suits for work and shopping unlike you Americans. Why is this?”.
The answer: Get a few 85 degree (Farenheit) days in London and men are in Hyde Park with their shirts off blinding everyone with the sunlight reflecting off the incredibly white (soon to be angry red) flesh, with suit pants rolled up to calves. I’m fairly sure the same thing happens in Germany, Denmark, Poland, etc. (Maybe not France… they’d rather die than roll up a sleeve outside Cannes.). Disclaimer: trust me when I say you won’t catch me outside wearing my Spongebob jammie pants and “I’ve Been to Duluth” t-shirt - there’s casual and then there’s publicly derelict; However, I’m also not putting on my good loafers and a linen jacket for a trip to Meijer, either.
TooManyDraculas@reddit
North America has much more variable, and extreme weather than Europe. Like documented, early colonists commented on it. Hurricanes, Nor Easters, tornados and the like aren't much of thing in Europe.
Most of the US sits at a lower latitude than Europe and has an overall warmer climate, but local climatic factors also mean most of the US has colder winters even when they have the warmer climate.
So that is actually a thing, and there's a reason they're pointing it out.
cranberry_spike@reddit
Which is not what I said, is it?
Eric848448@reddit
OP is talking about Western Europe.
TooManyDraculas@reddit
Another end of that is we have variable weather. Where my mother comes from in Maine it can swing from 90f in the day time to 50f after sundown during the summer. Where I grew up on Long Island the temperature doesn't swing that much, but in spring and summer you get roving downpours. It just spontaneously starts pissing rain, with the sun still out, for about 10-20 minutes.
Where I live currently has been in a cycle of it's close to 70 during the day, and in the 30s at night. Except when it's 80 degrees today, and 35 degrees tomorrow. Which is unusual for spring here, but not unheard of.
Not all of Europe, but a lot of Europe, is a lot more even keeled.
Americans often dress in layers.
cranberry_spike@reddit
Yes, this is absolutely true, and I am myself a walking example as I layer sweaters under sweaters with a down vest on top😅 You need not only something warm for before the sun gets high but also something for the rain or whatever else might come down.
Sufficient_Cod1948@reddit
And on the opposite end of the spectrum, it gets very cold and windy here. I'm not dressing to impress in the middle of February when the wind chill is in the single digits.
Tough_Tangerine7278@reddit
Agreed. Lots of hot places in the USA. The Deep South also gets very hot (and humid). Its Northern European fashion meets tropical heat. You get shorts and a t shirt.
BFFassbender@reddit
South Carolina here. Our unofficial state motto is "It ain't the heat, it's the humidity". Boyyyy lemme tell you, you step outside 8, 9AM in July and August and it's like stepping into a sauna. If I'm not heading to work, I'm in the lightest t-shirt I can find that day, a pair of shorts, and flip flops.
OGMom2022@reddit
I’m in TN and I like to compare it to being covered with a wet wool blanket. In a sauna.
BFFassbender@reddit
Local weatherman has a saying he likes to drop during the peak of summer here - "Wanna know what it feels like outside today? Take a good hot shower, don't dry off a bit, and put on jeans and a sweater to go out."
gator_mckluskie@reddit
i love that feeling. we live in the south, if it wasn’t hotter than the devil’s asshole during the summer i would want my money back
AgITGuy@reddit
Houston in summer - 105F and 90% humidity. Yeah, comfort is king.
Impossible-Moose4459@reddit
This! As a transplant from the UK, I know I've ended up wearing clothes I'd have never dreamed of wearing in England. Just for the comfort from the temperature alone. Still have to dress for court but the rest of time? Nope. Something I just would never have dreamed of doing in England.
mjohnben@reddit
I have a really good English friend who moved to Dallas when he was a teenager. He is the most relaxed dresser I know - he can mostly be seen in athleisure apparel. He just likes being comfy and I see nothing wrong with that.
ohsummerdawn@reddit
I feel like men in America are so scared of coming across as feminine in any way and putting effort in to ones appearance is viewed here as a feminine quality. Theres a lot of toxic masculinity here.
Dr_Watson349@reddit
Lol wut.
By this logic men would all be walking around in Brooks Brothers suit.
It hasn't nothing to do with looking feminine. It has to do with comfort.
ohsummerdawn@reddit
Youre missing some reading comprehension here.
Dr_Watson349@reddit
Oh ok. If you could explain it to me that would be awesome.
Thank you in advance!
ohsummerdawn@reddit
I didnt say dressing feminine. I said dressing up, As in the effort of dressing well, if viewed as feminine (and therefore potentially homosexual) behavior. This discouragement can start early. A boy putting effort in to their hair or their wardrobe may get mocked by their peers. A mother or father with ingrained patriarchal ideas is going to be concerned when a son shows interest in fashion. They will send signals that this isnt accepted. They will provide them clothes that fit the parents idea of masculinity from birth. The child will grow to associate that wardrobe with masculinity and will just go along with it without ever really thinking about why.
quitealargeorangecat@reddit
This is why a lot of gay men dress nicer. They usually care less about toxic masculinity.
Arleare13@reddit
Yeah, that's why I don't spend enormous amounts of time and money to look like a model when running to the grocery store. Totally, that must be it.
ohsummerdawn@reddit
Im glad youre thinking about it! I think its important to reflect on why we do the things we do and what childhood messaging resulted in adult behaviors. Proud of you for considering an alternative perspective.
Arleare13@reddit
FYI, I block condescending people.
cwcam86@reddit
Whats toxic about wanting to be comfortable? Men just wear what they like because its comfortable.
ohsummerdawn@reddit
I think you skipped several words in my fairly short sentence and its messing with your reading comprehension.
shornscrot@reddit
Yeah, as a dude proper this is pretty accurate
TwinkieDad@reddit
Because I think simple colors and patterns look better than garish loud prints. I don’t care that it is fashionable and certain men’s clothes stay stylish (not fashionable) for decades. For instance, a dark turtleneck sweater with dark pants just looks good.
Outlaw_Josie_Snails@reddit
Why do men in your country (Algeria) wear clothing that looks like bedsheets? Are they still living in the past?
I imagine they do so because it is comfortable and keeps them cool in hot weather, or perhaps out of tradition.
In the US, we have the freedom to dress how we want. We enjoy being comfortable.
We can choose to dress based upon the formality of the event. We also dress based upon the different climates in different states.
We have men who live in more rugged environments, such as farmers, who wear clothing based on their lifestyle.
We have men who work in the cities as bankers, financiers, and tech professionals who dress as they see fit.
TheShyBuck@reddit (OP)
Algerian men don't wear clothing that looks like bedsheets, usually it is religious men or poor men or high temperature, most Algerian men wear modern clothing.
Outlaw_Josie_Snails@reddit
Okay. I just based that on a Google Image keywords search for Algeria + Men + Clothing.
That goes to show that one shouldn't take online images and videos as gospel.
TheShyBuck@reddit (OP)
That is traditional clothing, it varies by region and most people don't wear it except for ceremonies, or holidays or festivals or memorials or reenactments.
goblin_hipster@reddit
Well, the consequences were not very dire (that is to say, there were no consequences). I like being comfortable. This has not stopped me from building my credit score or feeding my cat.
DrMindbendersMonocle@reddit
I don't think Adidas track suits are all that fashionable, but that's just me
TheShyBuck@reddit (OP)
I didn't mention Adidas track suits in my post.
DrMindbendersMonocle@reddit
You mentioned Russian men so you did indirectly
TheShyBuck@reddit (OP)
Not all Russian men wear tracksuits, many Russian men wear expensive clothing.
DrMindbendersMonocle@reddit
So do many American men, but like Russia, many also are almost always casual. Its a big country
ALoungerAtTheClubs@reddit
Personally, I don't see much point in being "fashionable." Fashion is a hamster wheel that's always turning over into some new fad.
In general, it's more pleasant to be comfortable.
Danibear285@reddit
Algeria is just track suits and goat herding so not sure what you’re on about fashion
TheShyBuck@reddit (OP)
Lol, tracksuits are declining in popularity in Algeria, right now many Algerian men don't wear them except for joggers or poor men
CountChoculasGhost@reddit
I can’t speak for everyone, but I personally value comfort more than impressing strangers.
kayakchick66@reddit
American men are casual until the occasion calls for formality. At least in my family. Then they really dress up.
OkPerformance2221@reddit
Americans, generally, dress to impress an inner circle of family or friends or fairly close social peers. Among strangers, we dress for comfort and machine-washable convenience.
BUBBAH-BAYUTH@reddit
Nailed it.
vaspost@reddit
The occasion for formal dress is almost never anymore.
BUBBAH-BAYUTH@reddit
American woman here, I am the same! I love clothes and fashion and I have a lot of fun with it, but I am not donning my fashions just because I’m leaving the house. You get running shorts or yoga pants and a T-shirt for most things.
mjohnben@reddit
And there’s nothing wrong with that!
Any-Concentrate-1922@reddit
Have you seen Adam Sandler?
TheDarKnightly@reddit
This is the answer.
BusinessWarthog6@reddit
i’m not trying to impress anyone when I run errands. If you don’t like jeans and a t-shirt and a hat then thats on you
BUBBAH-BAYUTH@reddit
I do not even mess with hard pants when running errands so you’re already doing better than me!
No-Examination-9957@reddit
I am now adopting the phrase ‘hard pants’.
BUBBAH-BAYUTH@reddit
Lmao I heard it somewhere and immediately adopted it!
I also have a sticker on my water bottle with a bunny rabbit wearing her sweats that says “sorry. I cant. I’m in my soft clothes.”
Fine_Preparation9767@reddit
As an American woman, I get the ick from men who dress "fashionably".
I don't want a guy putting more thought into his outfit than I do for mine.
It's just not masculine to me, and I like a masculine guy.
Gmhowell@reddit
Good observation. It goes along with the function over form thing some have mentioned. A man with time and energy to primp and preen is a man who could have been working more or harder.
Fine_Preparation9767@reddit
Not working more or harder, he could be doing anything at all instead of primping and preening. He could be napping for all I care. Putting on a nice shirt, doing a quick check that all is ok, is all the primping I want from my man. It's just a feminine thing to me.
TheJokersChild@reddit
Fashion is about needing to impress people. We don't feel the need to impress anyone with how we dress. It's frankly pretentious, and even a little off-putting, to be wearing something like Armani in a corporate or even just professional setting. Covid lowered the need for fashion even more with all the WFH that it brought about. We don't be needing to look fancy for our DoorDasher if they're the only one who sees us all day.
SabresBills69@reddit
people of Walmart subthread isn’t a good sample
rawbface@reddit
It's a gift to be simple, It's a gift to be free
It's a gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
We'll be in the valley of love and delight.
saberlight81@reddit
Because I'm going to the store not a wedding
emmasdad01@reddit
We are a more relaxed group.
WFOMO@reddit
Don't know about up north, but in South Texas the heat has the most to do with it. Less clothes, more comfort.
AgITGuy@reddit
Same reason why we are so friendly to random people than other places. It’s just who we are, how we were raised and we are more open to being informal and accepting in more facets of life.
Efficient-Panic3506@reddit
i feel like you’re comparing “european guys going out” to “americans doing errands” lol
americans def dress up when there’s a reason, but nobody’s putting together an outfit just to buy milk
Technical_Plum2239@reddit
We are less judgemental about it.
Memento_Viveri@reddit
Is this being judgemental?
I would actually say I think, especially among American boys, they are very judgemental about dressing fashionably. When I was in middle and high school, guys who dressed nice were called metrosexual and other things that teased them and called into question their masculinity.
Technical_Plum2239@reddit
Absolutely. I am judging you on spending habits - not how you look.
And I think bringing homophobic teens into this is pushing it.
I DO think there is a group that is pretty judgy about clothes. They don't like gays or city people. Carhartt and the right jeans, etc.
There totally are subcultures. But in general there is no expectation fashionable clothing = worthiness.
Now I am in a New England/California bubble. Most functioning adults are pretty cool with doing your own thing when it comes to clothes.
Memento_Viveri@reddit
I grew up in the Bay area.
So you are actually judgemental about clothing? Doesn't this contradict your claim?
iowanaquarist@reddit
No. They already explained twice -- they ARE NOT judging people for their fashion sense. They ARE judging them for their spending habits.
Here is a completely extreme example to make the point:
If I see someone lighting a joint, I don't really judge them for smoking pot. If I see them lighting a joint with a $100 bill, I judge them for being wasteful with money. I don't care who you are, there are absolutely better things to use that money for.
Memento_Viveri@reddit
So, a finely dressed European man may look at an American man and think he is foolish for not prioritizing how he presents himself, and the American man may look back at the European and think is foolish for prioritizing his appearance so much.
Who is being less judgemental?
iowanaquarist@reddit
Ok. So what?
Neither. What's your point?
Memento_Viveri@reddit
That OPs claim that he is less judgemental is BS.
iowanaquarist@reddit
The OP didn't claim that, nor did the person you were replying to.
The person you are replying to never said they were less judgmental overall. They specifically said they were less judgmental ABOUT FASHION. They clarified this several times, and now I have clarified it for you, too.
Memento_Viveri@reddit
I disagree that we are less judgemental about fashion. I think there is a lot of judgment about people caring too much about how they look. My interpretation is it is viewed as both foolish and unmanly to dedicate a lot of time and money to your appearance. I think this is a judgement about fashion and appearance.
iowanaquarist@reddit
You are free to think that.
As an American, I have never seen that -- but I also don't live in some Red Hat paradise. Even where I live in Iowa, those sorts of trends died out years and years ago. At most, you would be judged for poor spending habits. Even the conservative bigots around here complain less about it being 'unmanly' and more about being fiscally irresponsible -- and then assume you are wasting welfare money.
Technical_Plum2239@reddit
"Finely dressed"? What is finely dressed mean?
Technical_Plum2239@reddit
Not judgemental "about it" - "it" being fashionable. '
Memento_Viveri@reddit
I think you're making a distinction without a difference. You are looking at a person's clothes and judging them to be foolish based on those clothes.
Technical_Plum2239@reddit
Maybe. And the thing is I understand folks who enjoy fashion. True fashion - coming up with ideas and looks that are interesting. It's like art. Art for Arts sake.
But then there are people who desperately follow fashion trying to impress other people. Judge people if they aren't doing the same thing.
I love when I see people doing there own thing - I hate when I see people standing in line to spend 300 bucks on a piece of attire because ...well, I don't know why they would. Wanting to be exclusive.
It probably is hypocritical? I don't know. I am an old Yankee that believes in being responsible and sensible. Seeing toddlers with 300 burberry hats makes me insane. I guess it's just my issue and that's why IRL I just shut up about it.
No-Contact6664@reddit
missing the words "about it"
Oldy_VonMoldy@reddit
This. And it doesn’t end at adulthood. European men’s fashion is scorned in America as very gay.
TraditionalSafety384@reddit
Nothing in the question was about the price of clothing
MamaPajamaMama@reddit
Fashion and price go hand in hand.
Technical_Plum2239@reddit
I know, but I know Polish and Russian men and seems to be "fashionable". Brands, brands, brands.
If he just included French and Italian I'd think had to do with looking smart.
anypositivechange@reddit
“We are less judgmental” … “I think they are foreign and/or a bit foolish”
Hilarious.
Technical_Plum2239@reddit
About being fashionable. "About it"
StardogChamp@reddit
This will get downvoted to oblivion but if you want an honest opinion the way European men dress looks gay to us
JinNJ@reddit
A lack of pretentiousness on our part. Comfort beats “looking fashionable” every day of the week.
RedStateKitty@reddit
This is it. Comfort. But please leave the pjs at home.
Imaginary_Ladder_917@reddit
LOL. My son, who is a high school senior who generally wears athleisure but is very picky about it and always looks very put together, ran out out of the house today wearing pajama pants and a T-shirt. He told me “senioritis has kicked in” as he went out the door. I had to laugh. That is not his norm and I pick my battles. As long as he is keeping up with his schoolwork, and he is, I’m not going to make a big deal of it
JinNJ@reddit
Totally agree. Personally, I’m all about jeans/t-shirt (& shorts when warm & a hoodie when cold). I leave the pjs at home.
AppropriateDark5189@reddit
I wake up not knowing what to wear. Over the past 3 months we have had multiple days where temperatures in a single day have changed from above 20C to below -4C. I mowed my lawn in a T-shirt one day and the next day I needed a winter coat.
I really just don't want to expend the effort to be fashionable. It is hard enough to stay comfortable. I'm not trying to impress anyone and I appreciate a more relaxed atmosphere with people that might not be able to afford the things I might be able to afford.
I do wear more fashionable clothes for social events, (some) weddings, funerals, sometimes broad business meetings, etc.. Overall though, I'm looking at utility and comfort.
pickledplumber@reddit
In other countries they are leading with opportunities that may be benefitted by dressing nice. In the US they lead with opportunities that don't really care about it.
It was no different on america when opportunities weren't as good.
donuttrackme@reddit
Why shouldn't you dress very simply?
FloatyghostJM1@reddit
I think it has something to do with the way the Protestant work ethic is ingrained in our culture.
Where I’m from, most men dress like they could have come from a construction or other blue collar job, even if they’re in white collar roles. Many men drive pickup trucks for a similar reason. They want to project the image of a red-blooded hard-working man who needs to wear thick fabrics like denim and are too pragmatic and rugged for soft, foo foo things.
judgingA-holes@reddit
Because a lot of Americans prefer comfort over style, and also don't want to spend a lot of money on clothes that they are just going to go to the store in.
No-Contact6664@reddit
On the other hand the shorts I go to the store with flip flops in cost $120, were made in America, and have lasted 14 years now. They still look like shorts though.
throwawayatxaway@reddit
American men don't like women that much and don't feel the need to attempt to look good for them because they aren't held to a high standard.
cwcam86@reddit
Men dont like women? What does that got to do with what I wear? I love my wife and live in jean shorts and Crocs because its whats comfortable.
InsertNovelAnswer@reddit
Work tends to be business casual, so that's what we wear. A polo and khakis or a button down and slacks. We dont usually go in suits if that's what you are asking. Comfort over style a lot, its practical.
honeylaundress@reddit
Homophobia
cwcam86@reddit
Whats hemophobia got to do with me wearing jean shorts crocs and black t shirts? Do gay people not wear that?
Dr_Watson349@reddit
This.
I would totally throw on my Tom Ford suit, but I don't want to be gay.
That's it. You fucking nailed it.
Pabu85@reddit
At least partly related to the rise of AIDS in the 80s. Look at men’s clothing from the 70s…there’s pizazz and short shorts.
dangleicious13@reddit
I don't care about being perceived as gay. I just want to be comfortable. Most of the time, that means just being in shorts and a t-shirt.
scruffye@reddit
You're not wrong. Couldn't even go through a phase of "men attempting to try skincare" without it being labeled metrosexual.
crasho7@reddit
And laziness. But mostly homophobia. Also leads to shit stains.
GhostOfJamesStrang@reddit
Wut
Granadafan@reddit
Eropeans: How dare you Americans generalize Europe. It is a “continent” of many different countries, languages, and cultures!”
Also people from the western part of Eurasia: BuT iN eUrOpE wE ArE So fAsHiOnAbLe!!!
No-Profession422@reddit
Comfort and functionality. I ain't trying to impress anyone.
waynofish@reddit
Perhaps it's that there is still a large rural population, laid back beach towns, lots of blue-collar workers and many are self-employed in outdoor oriented work.
Stylish isn't really needed in those cases when one can throw on nice jeans and a button down or snap button collard shirt (light or flannel/long or short sleeve) and be dressed nice. That "style" has been around for years and will likely never go away.
Fancy "fashionable" trends can stay in the big city clubs and such. I'm sure New York, LA, Miami (Latin vibe), and other big US cities rival anything from Paris, London and others.
Significant-Owl-2980@reddit
Our status doesn’t depend on what you look like in the US.
In other countries you project your status by your clothing. In the US anyone can make a lot of money.
Millionaires dress in sweatpants and cashiers can dress in Chanel. It all depends on where they want to spend their money.
My Indian friend thinks i should dress in the best fashion I can afford and wear high heels every day. To project a higher status.
lol. I live in a very rural small town. I would look ridiculous wearing heels in winter.
spontaneous-potato@reddit
Wearing relaxed fit jeans, a white v-neck, and converse shoes is comfy for me. If it’s cold, I have a black windbreaker jacket that I found for cheap, and a beanie that my cousin gave me when he first launched his clothing brand (that doesn’t exist anymore).
It’s also a minimal and timeless style that works in nearly every casual setting in the U.S. I go for the “cheap” brands like Levi’s for my jeans and fruit of the loom shirts because they’re sturdy quality to me.
madogvelkor@reddit
There's a cultural component to it. White and Asian men tend to dress more simply and conservatively than Black or Hispanic men, for example.
No-Contact6664@reddit
Same reason we'll drive a Subaru or 4Runner.
FlashThompson3696@reddit
I agree that we yanks are dressing down a bit too much now. Sick of seeing people at funerals in jeans or shorts.
Gmhowell@reddit
I’ll jump out of the casket if someone wastes time with a suit at my funeral unless it’s someone who wears one on the regular.
Thhe_Shakes@reddit
American culture is highly individualistic, which generally reduces the societal pressure to conform to standards of dress.
To put it another way, I got too much other bullshit goin on to worry about what some rando at the supermarket thinks of my pants.
FinanceGuyHere@reddit
You should visit any bar in America during the Kentucky Derby
venus_arises@reddit
ITT: people who've never met Soviet men, huh.
Ukrainian here married to a fellow soviet: communism is your answer. Self-expression in clothing, access to new fashion (my mother was 20 when she got her first pair of jeans, because grandpa went to East Germany), and a cultural expectation to Look Your Best In Public. There's less of a stereotype that a man is gay if he's interested in looking well, so the men of my ethnicity take clothing seriously. There's less of an emphasis on looking fashionable.
My husband has stopped wearing jeans and will wear t-shirts on VERY casual days. He will wear shorts either at home or at the beach. When we go out to jazz/opera/musicals jacket and tie is on.
No_Patience_6801@reddit
We like to be comfortable. No need to put on airs - just being yourself is very acceptable here. A lot of the wealthiest people love nothing more than to throw on some flip flops, a T-shirt and shorts. The wealthiest people I knew in San Diego regularly dressed like surfer dudes. Now if you work in a high caliber job or the like, you would dress according the expectations of the job.
APENGUN@reddit
Jeans, belt, white tee and maybe my college varsity jacket. What more could I need
Littleboypurple@reddit
I ain't trying to impress Strangers at the local Kroger supermarket
cwcam86@reddit
I'm married, I'm not out chasing women anymore so why wouldn't I want to be comfortable now.
From March until mid November outside of work I'm always in basketball shorts or jean shorts with a black t shirt or hockey jersey and Crocs. I'm going going on a fancy date night I'll wear jeans with Hey Dudes.
Level_Mastodon_8657@reddit
I live in SW Florida. Comfort is #1. Golf or fishing shirt with shorts. That is what I wore when I purchased my Porsche Carrera GTS. Don’t judge a book by its cover.
Roachester@reddit
For the most part, the US is a very casual sort of country. Outside of formal events & dating you're not really expected to keep up appearances, so most people choose to dress comfortably.
TheLastCoagulant@reddit
Nobody’s actually answering the question.
It has to do with America being initially settled by Protestants. Catholic opulence vs Protestant austerity has been a trope for hundreds of years.
Seltzer-Slut@reddit
My answer is a woman is that women’s fashion is a lot more casual here too. “Trying too hard” is seen as uncool. Overdressing is uncool. It’s like you’re stiff and stuck up, or care too much about what other people think about you.
Athleticism is cool here, so people will wear their athletic clothes out in public a lot.
Ok-Wave7703@reddit
Most Americans don’t care about high end fashion. And for good reason, it’s expensive and uncomfortable, no reason to wear it outside of special occasions. We created street wear fashion which is still very popular today.
GeauxCup@reddit
A lot of America is hot and humid.
nightglitter89x@reddit
Ain't nobody got the patience or time for all that for no reason .
WarrenMulaney@reddit
We're too busy putting people on the moon and deep-frying candy bars.
PuddingImpressive389@reddit
It’s pretty hot in south Texas. Most people just wear pants, a shirt, a hat, or sweats. You can 100% be stylish with that apparel though.
Gmhowell@reddit
Descended from a nation of farmers and criminals who needed to work hard. Not a nation of royals and societal betters we had to aspire to. Notions of equality of men factor in as well.
ButtholeSurfur@reddit
One reason is we tend to have more extreme weather
gdubh@reddit
As an American man, I don’t know and I don’t care. So perhaps that’s an answer in itself.
thetonytaylor@reddit
A lot of people don't feel the need to be flashy, but if you're in any big city here, most people are still spending an insane amount on the basics. Rag & Bone shirt is $100 and looks like a $5 basic tee. Theory shirt is $165.
No-Contact6664@reddit
I've been all over Europe and talk about simple. Everyone is in the same puffy jacket.
Wunktacular@reddit
Generally speaking, our culture rewards men for being rugged and functional. Fashion is often seen as a feminine or even emasculating interest.
Working class men overwhelmingly prefer simple and functional clothing, while middle and upper class men may dress more extravagantly.
Many working class men have a brand preference due to a particular piece of clothing that they feel suits their needs or fits them well. Some brands are seen as fancier and more desirable/attractive, while still carrying their masculine connotations and functional characteristics.
V-DaySniper@reddit
They value comfort and ease over impressing others. There is less of a peacocking culture here in the states. Plus a lot of women also like the strong hard working man look over the posh delicate I have money but not through hard labor look.
BOSS_OF_THE_INTERNET@reddit
Who decides what is fashionable? I’m no going to spend 3x for clothing that’s not as comfortable or easy to maintain just because some influencer who lives an entirely different life than I do started a trend.
cashewmonet@reddit
We are a car based society. When we leave the house, we get straight in the car, never having to be perceived by anyone until we get to our destination. If that destination is just the store where we won't spend more than 30 minutes, then people don't feel like they have to look put together.
Now I disagree with the whole "we like to dress simply" argument because you can get simple puttogether clothes like classic, well-made staples that don't require much styling, but people don't consider looks at all in the first place.
Anon-John-Silver@reddit
Because they’re lazy and entitled
JennItalia269@reddit
I value comfort over style.
Major_Spite7184@reddit
It’s hot. It’s so hot. It’s humid all the time. If I dress up, 7-8 months out of the year I’ll look like I just did a 10K in a sauna.
Comedeorologist@reddit
A Ukrainian exchange student once explained to me that her friends would lie about how much they spent on clothes, claiming they spent more money than they did. But Americans would brag about how little they spent.
Or if an American makes an elaborate Thanksgiving or Christmas meal, there's a good chance they'll serve it on dishwasher-safe, or even disposable, plates.
Americans are practical and frugal, although it sometimes doesn't seem that way.
Deep-Promotion-2293@reddit
Just be glad I’m wearing clothes, ok?
iowanaquarist@reddit
Different standards of fashion. Overdressing for an occasion is tacky.
JJ-310310@reddit
I think Europeans are “out and about” a lot more. Us Americans (outside of say NYC and core SF) jump in our car and go straight to wherever we are going with likely minimal interaction. Why bother when there’s barely anyone to see. Also - who gives a shit? We have things like houses, cars, closets full of shit from Amazon and Temu we don’t need. No more bandwidth to think about dressing nice to impress randoms. Now the Halloween or Christmas decorations on the house - watch out.
PaRuSkLu@reddit
The US is a massive place. The way people dress in New York City or Los Angeles is vastly different than how they dress and small towns in the Midwest.
Danibear285@reddit
Foreigners ☕️
TheBimpo@reddit
Maybe you’ve been stuck in an algorithm. I generally will put on at the very least a proper shirt, jacket, and top hat to run errands. If I have an appointment I will add spats, vest, or other accessories.
Famous-Hunt-6461@reddit
American men dgaf. American women, however, can be very fashionable.
ChevronSugarHeart@reddit
American men dress like they are going to a bbq, beach, or just their mom’s. Gay American men bring it!
ManicPixieDreamHag1@reddit
A lot of us (myself included) are overweight (literally 74% percent of US adults are at least overweight with 40 percent of us qualifying as obese— that’s CDC data, btw). “Fashionable” clothes aren’t as comfortable on a fat body and often don’t look very good on one. A surprising number of fashion clothing brands don’t even make larger sizes. So…yeah.
Crayshack@reddit
Practicality and comfort are seen as much more important than performative aspects of fashion. Especially in more rural areas.
Lugbor@reddit
Why should I spend extra money and not be comfortable just to impress people I done like?
gmwdim@reddit
Yeah exactly. If I’m at work sometimes I have to dress to impress (meeting clients, trade shows, etc.). Outside of that I’m dressing for comfort.
garster25@reddit
Took the words right out of my mouth. Nailed it.
BusinessWarthog6@reddit
Because the stranger in public might judge you /s
Lugbor@reddit
Oh no! Anyway...
ElementalPink12@reddit
Men dress more fashionably in urban areas.
Free_Divide195@reddit
IME this is more regional / cultural than it is gender-based.
If you look at urban areas like Seattle, LA, New York, Chicago, etc you'll see much more diversity in the menswear space. Streetwear, business attire, more outlandish artsy outfits in certain neighborhoods. The further you get from urban centers - which accounts for a LOT of America - the more practical and uncurated things will get.
I work in the arts, and most the men I work with are VERY fashionable. Similarly, most the men I meet through my work - donors, artists, etc - are equally fashionable.
I will note that, similar to Japanese streetstyle and New England 'old money' aesthetics, even the very fashionable Americans tend to wear more understated styles. Our fashion ideals tend to prioritize more neutral pieces of high quality versus flashier pieces. You might see someone wearing what appears to be a basic pair of jeans but the cut, quality, and craftsmanship is much higher.
MonkeyVine7@reddit
Have you seen our architecture? We simply match the vibe. Parking lots and targets and boring grey buildings everywhere calls for t shirt and shorts.
goblinspot@reddit
I think there are two things to think about. Casual dress and then sweatsuit couture.
I will wear khakis/jeans and a button down shirt 95% of the time an my kids will ask why I’m dressed up. Pre-Covid I would also wear sport coats regularly.
I see so many others here who will put on their “good sweats” to go out in public.
I’m horrified by that, but find suits (and now sportcoats) stuffy.
Bootmacher@reddit
You're not comparing America to Russia, UK, France, etc. You're comparing America to Moscow, London, and Paris.
Weaselandhottie@reddit
Poor clothing choices. If you spend a little bit of money on a cheap suit and cheap ass shirt, you are going to be uncomfortable and think it's the "type" of clothing causing the discomfort. A decent suit and shirt feels like a pair of pajamas (pyjamas for my UK friends) if you know what quality feels like.
To me, jeans are pretty uncomfortable, provide no real warmth in winter and outrageously hot in summer. They are good when it is about 50-70F and that's it. The god awful idea of jean shorts for men is a pox upon humanity. That person should be drawn and quartered along with the person who decided to put fake nipples on bra's.
RedRedBettie@reddit
No they don’t lol at least not when they visit the US, I see a lot of skinny jeans and track suits
BC999R@reddit
What is “simply”? Where I live, a lot of men will wear a $500 outfit of Patagonia, Kühl, Blundstone etc that looks simple, but is a) comfortable, b) durable, and c) definitely makes a statement about wealth.
CelebrationFar1351@reddit
Tell us the point of doing otherwise. Why should we dress more formal?
JoeMorgue@reddit
Insert the:
"Men what's to stop you dressing like this 24/7?"
"I don't work at an Olive Garden."
Meme here.
Deolater@reddit
I think you could make an argument from history, tracing it to the (relatively) plain fashion of New England, which became the fashion of the capitalist upper class during the industrial revolution and beyond. Men's clothing became less formal over time, but hasn't become flashier.
I'm not sure that's accurate, but it feels mostly right.
I actually dress with a particular, intentional style, but since it's inspired by vintage work wear, it's probably pretty stealthy
FellafromPrague@reddit
"Czech men"
I beg you to reconsider
ChemicallyAlteredVet@reddit
In this economy? Those high end Euro brands cost way more in the US, way more.
nsnyder@reddit
I see you didn't mention British, Irish, or German men...
turdferguson3891@reddit
Socks with Birkenstocks is the epitome of fashion.
goatcheezre@reddit
I spent a month in Poland a couple years back for work. I was very taken aback with how the people I worked with genuinely cared about how a passing stranger on the street might think of them and how they dressed.
Rodtherobot4210@reddit
We don’t really care about that
LifeIsAPhotoOp@reddit
Because we aren't judgey like that. We may look at someone in public who is dressed super nice and think "wow I love their outfit" while at the same time not think twice or judge someone for walking around in sweats or jeans and a tee shirt. Because who cares?
tenehemia@reddit
You're assuming that the simple outfits you see aren't considered fashionable. That isn't always the case. Fashion isn't a monolith and what looks cool in one culture doesn't in another. American mens fashion tends to be looser and more comfortable is all.
sneezhousing@reddit
Don't see the need to
JoeMorgue@reddit
BTW before it even comes up.
"I'm not judging you, no siree, don't you dare suggest I'm judging you. But I AM judging the fact that you don't live your life as if everyone else is judging you in a way that is functionally identical to me being the one judging you" is just judging me with extra steps.
flossiedaisy424@reddit
Homophobia.
rosietherosebud@reddit
The US has a relatively masculine culture where it's a common trope that European men aren't as manly. Being concerned with your appearance is seen as feminine.
BochBochBoch@reddit
Wearing designer clothes does not make you fashionable.
Aggravating_Total921@reddit
Apathy
dystopiadattopia@reddit
Informality is a general American attitude. Being unnecessarily dressy or formal makes people think you're putting on airs
ChemMJW@reddit
American culture does not place a great deal of worth on fashion or dressing in a trendy manner. If you have to look for a reason, maybe because it reminds us of the old (and current) European aristocracy, and Americans don't like the overt classism inherent to nobles vs. commoners, so we avoid the trappings of the nobility, which included frivolous fashion and tedious, elevated styles.
Of course, there are many individual Americans who do care about fashion. It's just that our society as a whole doesn't.
brinns_way@reddit
I think part of the reason is that being fashionable is not generally equated with being masculine in our culture.
Kazyctn@reddit
Spending a lot of time, thought, or money is often thought of as vain, effeminate, or foolish by American men.
Major-Regret@reddit
Russian men are potatoes in sweatpants and track suits, this is actually funny
WeDontKnowMuch@reddit
I personally think “fashionable” clothing, especially the casual type fashion-wear looks super ugly.
I like comfortable, durable clothes that have utility. I also like outdoor wear or athletic wear.
ParadoxicalFrog@reddit
Because men who dress fashionably get mocked as "metrosexuals", so they're afraid to put any effort into their appearance lest they be mistaken for gay.
Isgrimnur@reddit
Cool costs money.
-RedRocket-@reddit
They are afraid of looking gay.
SnapHackelPop@reddit
Individualism. Fashion is for the birds. Passing fads that just get you to buy the new shit all the time. You're supposed to grow out of that after high school/college. The line between comfy casual and slob is a fuzzy one, and some of it is just dumb masculinity. For me, I wear what I feel like. If people wanna judge me for wearing band shirts at age 31, who cares?
sandbagger45@reddit
Eh I think I’m good with how I dress rather than sticking to trends and fashion. There’s looking sloppy vs looking well put together. You don’t need to wear expensive clothes to look presentable.
notthegoatseguy@reddit
I've been going to Europe since 2002 and think this is an incredibly dated stereotype that maybe applied in the 90s and before, but no longer, especially nowadays.
But anyway, why should i not be comfortable in my day-to-day attire? Am I meeting with like the Pope or something?
NotDelnor@reddit
I dont care what french dudes wear. I like my clothes and they are comfortable.
SaintsFanPA@reddit
1) Define "fashionable"
2) Americans tend to prioritize comfort and utility over all else
shadowpavement@reddit
Mosquitos.
Roam1985@reddit
Practicality and use.
Similarly: It's a different culture. What is fashionable for one culture is not fashionable for others.
So in their own culture, they're fashionable. Because jeans and a t shirt is fine.
Cometguy7@reddit
I can wear what I wear and be accepted by my peers, or I can go out of my way to find something more stylish, pay a whole lot more, and be treated the same.
425565@reddit
Ponders "simply"..
ID_Poobaru@reddit
I just throw on whatever and head to work